Northlight

Under its idyllic surface, uneasy forces stir in the land of Laurea, rumors of war with the savage north and the assassination of a beloved leader. Kardith, knife fighter and Ranger, joins forces with young scholar Terricel to discover a deadly conspiracy. With her sharp steel and his transcendent vision, they must find a way through old hatreds and past new tyrants. But to do this, they must each confront and heal the past -- Kardith must make her peace with the personal horror she has buried deep within her soul, while Terricel discovers a terrible, ancient secret which threatens not only Laurea, but the entire world. She's a Ranger, a wild and savvy knife-fighter, determined to get help in finding her partner who's lost on the treacherous northern border. He's a scholar who sees visions, eager to escape the confines of city life and the shadow of his charismatic mother. With the assassination of a beloved leader and the city in turmoil, the two have only each other to turn to. What begins as a rescue mission turns deadly as together they unravel the secret that lies beneath Laurea's idyllic surface. Reviews: "A beautifully constructed fantasy with characters who grow and mature before the reader's eyes and who are engagingly human while being fantastically heroic. Her writing flows and the point of view switches are interesting and exciting. This book is a keeper." Rickey Mallory, Affair de Coeur "A style and manner reminiscent of McCaffrey's Crystal Singer series." The Bookwatch "An unusual saga that starts slowly but builds to a startling climax." Sherry S. Hoy, Kliatt "Solid characters and a well-designed world make for good reading." Philadelphia Press "Under its idyllic surface, uneasy forces stir in the land of Laurea, rumors of war with the savage north and the assassination of a beloved leader. Kardith, knife fighter and Ranger, joins forces with young scholar Terricel to discover a deadly conspiracy. To find a way through old hatreds and new tyrants, they must each confront and heal the past - Kardith must make her peace with the personal horror she has buried deep within her soul, while Terricel discovers a terrible, ancient secret which threatens not only Laurea, but the entire world."-- Provided by publisher